OUTLINE

Introduction

I. Presentation of the country

1) History 2) Government 3) Fauna and Flora

II. Main areas to visit

1) Central valley 2) Caribbean 3) Pacific Coast

III. Ecotourism in Costa Rica

1) Definition 2) Why is Costa Rica a nice place for ecotourism 3) Impact of tourism

Conclusion

Introduction

In this report, I will talk about Costa Rica and tourism.

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the east and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
Costa Rica has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in terms of the Human Development Index, and ranked 42 in the world in 2008. The country is ranked 5th in the world, and 1st among the Americas, in terms of the 2008 Environmental Performance Index. In 2007 the Costa Rican government announced plans for Costa Rica to become the first carbon neutral country by 2021.

In the last decade Costa Rica has positioned itself in the world as a country of peace – without an army - and as an agricultural nation, with traditionally important products such as bananas, coffee, and sugar cane. It has also distinguished itself for its efforts in the area of biodiversity conservation; and accordingly, has positioned itself as an innovative tourist destination based on its natural wealth, clearly differentiated in the large international market.

Considered one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, Costa Rica is divided in 20 natural parks, 8 biological reserves, and a series of protected areas that captivate ecotourism lovers. The variety of activities includes horseback riding, hiking mountainous paths in the cloud forests, and guided bird-watching tours.
Tortuguero National Park is especially famous for sea turtle nesting that takes place every year, and the natural canals that abound with protected